Dark Spire
- Alex Cabrero
- Apr 29, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 5
(Hanksville) The name itself is interesting enough to get some attention. Dark Spire?! It sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings. It also looks like something out of Lord of the Rings.
The Dark Spire is a striking natural formation located near the small town of Hanksville. It is a slender black rock tower that seems out of place surrounded by reddish-brown buttes. That contrast gives it an alien feel almost like you're on another planet. As I was standing next to it and looking at the landscape, it felt like it was some kind of sundial.
Timber and I made this trip specifically to hike to Dark Spire. Even though it sounds intimidating, the hike is actually very easy. It's called the Long Dong Silver Trail (another name for Dark Spire is Silver Spire or Long Dong Silver, but I like Dark Spire) and is only about a mile long on mostly level terrain. The trail itself is unmarked. You park right where you see signs saying "no motorized vehicles” and “cross country travel prohibited.”
From this point, park your car and walk straight on what used to be an off-road vehicle trail. You can still see tire marks from people who drove close to Dark Spire before the vehicle ban. Or from people who don't feel like the rules apply to them.
There's a large butte on your right as you get closer. You'll cross a dry wash and continue north. Hike past butte and you'll start to see the top of the spire over a small hill. It's not hard to miss.
There are several ways to reach the spire but it's easy to see where others have hiked to it. It's truly by itself in an amphitheater of buttes. The spire is on a little slope thay is easy to hike up.
I'm not sure how this thing formed, except it was probably erosion and time, Like most things in the desert. When you visit, there's a decent chance you'll have the place to yourself. I saw one other couple leaving as I hiked in. The quiet is so loud, if that makes sense. You can hear your heartbeat, your breathing, and if you brought a dog, the sniffing. It's a very peaceful, surreal, and alien feeling.
Dark Spire is made up of flaky rocks and sand. If you walk up to it, you can see what I'm talking about. I think the best view is behind it... opposite in the direction you hiked in. But it's also impressive when you first see it. I guarantee you'll take a hundred pictures. It's also a great place to eat lunch or have a little snack. Just remember to take any garbage with you.
I spent about 30 minutes just looking at it and taking pictures. Dark Spire is becoming more popular, but it's still enough of a hidden gem that your friends will ask you, "where is that?"
To get there, head on Highway 24 for about seven miles west of Hanksville. You'll have to pull off to the side of the road (if Hanksville is behind you, pull off to the right) and head on some dirt off-rad trails. There are several dirt roads in the area, but they kind of all lead to the same spot where the "no motorized vehicles" signs are. It's about a mile to a mile and a half, depending on the dirt road you took.
Dark Spire is one of those easy adventures that will have you wanting to do more! Timber loved it, and with the alien landscape, you could honestly tell your friends you hiked for two days to reach it :)
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